Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Madison by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller at the French Laundry unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Madison using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Takumi Japanese Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (357 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4222 East Towne Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Bandung Indonesian Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (281 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 600 Williamson St. Ste M Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Indonesian, Asian Fusion, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Natt Spil
- Rating: 4.0/5 (245 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 King St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Dim Sum, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Ha Long Bay
- Rating: 4.0/5 (1026 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1353 Williamson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Vietnamese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Himal Chuli
- Rating: 4.2/5 (301 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 318 State St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Himalayan/Nepalese
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Grampa's Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (315 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1374 Willamson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Pizza Brutta
- Rating: 4.4/5 (459 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1805 Monroe St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Double 10 Mini Hot Pot
- Rating: 4.5/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 600 Williamson St. East Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Hot Pot, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Salvatore's Tomato Pies
- Rating: 4.6/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 912 East Johnson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, New American, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Muramoto Hilldale
- Rating: 3.8/5 (388 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 546 North Midvale Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Soup, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Rare Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.8/5 (365 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 14 West Mifflin St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Otto's Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 3.8/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6405 Mineral Point Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mediterranean, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Johnny Delmonico's Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.8/5 (217 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 130 South Pinckney St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Dubai Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 3.9/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 419 State St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Merchant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (701 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 121 South Pinckney St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Graze
- Rating: 3.9/5 (1370 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1 South Pinckney St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Naples 15
- Rating: 3.9/5 (457 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 15 North Butler St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Lucille
- Rating: 3.9/5 (593 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 King St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, New American, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Lombardinos Italian Restaurant and Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (277 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2500 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Tornado Steak House
- Rating: 4.0/5 (743 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 116 South Hamilton St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Steakhouses, Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Eno Vino Downtown
- Rating: 4.1/5 (373 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1 North Webster St. Floor 10 Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Wine Bars, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Tempest Oyster Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (408 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 120 East Wilson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Eno Vino Wine Bar & Bistro
- Rating: 4.2/5 (357 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 601 Junction Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Wine Bars, New American, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Madison Club
- Rating: 4.2/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 5 East Wilson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#6. L'Etoile
- Rating: 4.2/5 (301 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1 South Pinckney St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. RED
- Rating: 4.3/5 (436 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 316 West Washington Ave. Ste 100 Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Sushi Bars, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Cadre Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2540 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: French, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Novanta
- Rating: 4.6/5 (367 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8452 Old Sauk Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#2. DelecTable
- Rating: 4.6/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 3248 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Cooking Classes, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Nook
- Rating: 4.9/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2138 Atwood Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
